Page 118 of Whiskey Proposal

I’m getting better at opening up, and I have friends now.

There’s a knock on the door and Hillary sneaks in. She wore a dress today because she wanted to look like everyone else. Brooks let me take her to Billings and shop, and we did it one of the days he was training for his delivery job with Foster House Gold.

“Hey, Bunny.” I sit on the edge of the bed. “What’s it like out there?”

“Lots of big trucks.” She plops next to me and swings her legs. “Need some facts?”

Laughter filters in from outside and my stomach goes wild. I’ll be fine, but a little prevention won’t hurt. “Yes.”

“Penny can live eight to ten years.” Penny is Hillary’s Flemish giant rabbit. Brooks found one with Prescott’s help after the house business was over. “Since she’s three, that’s five to seven years. And they can be trained to use the litter box.”

I already knew that. Hillary’s working on it with Penny. My anxiety mildly calms down.

“It’s going to be okay,” Hillary says softly. “You and Daddy are really happy here.”

I pull her close with a one-armed hug. “Are you?”

“Yeah.” Her gaze is imploring. “I don’t ever want to move.”

“If you never want to move, your dad will never want to move, and I like having you both right next door.”

“Do you think Daddy will find someone too?”

Oh. “I don’t know.” I have my own baggage from growing up, and Brooks does too. Yet I got over mine—with a lot of help. “If he wants it, he will.”

“Yeah,” she says almost sadly. “Will she like Penny and the chickens?”

“If she has any taste.”

Hillary giggles and we sit for a moment. “Daddy has Grandpa Hutch,” she says, her big eyes on me. “I like having him here.”

The urn. “Yeah. Felt fitting.” I blink rapidly. No ruining makeup. “Thought he should be here with us before we give him a proper inurnment and reception.”

“Daddy said I could help plan that.”

I smooth a hand over her hair. “Yeah, Bunny. You can.”

The door cracks open and Lane sneaks inside.

“Hey.” Hillary points a finger. “No seeing the bride!”

Lane grins, undaunted. “We’re already married.”

Hillary tips her head from side to side. “I’ll allow it.” She hops off the bed. On her way out the door, she gives Lane a hug. “You’d better make her happy, Uncle Lane.”

“You know I won’t settle for less.” When she pulls away, he bends to be at her level. “Phillip is getting worked up over all the guests while he’s locked up. Mind throwing him some feed?”

“Sure!” She runs out.

I smile at him. “You just wanted her out of the room.”

He winks. “Phillip’s been giving me the side-eye all morning. I think he’s worried about his girls.”

“The males around this place seem to do that.” I rise, but he stays right where he is.

“Let me just look at you.” He cocks his head and rakes his hot gaze down my body.

I smooth my hands down my skirt. The dress I picked for the day that I never thought would happen is a loose bohemian V-neck. I didn’t want anything clingy or fancy for an outdoor wedding on a cool day. It’s perfect for a night of dancing and will come off quickly when everyone’s gone. I used the same theme with my hair. A fishtail braid with wisps left out to frame my face.